Meet Our Team
We are a team of active land stewards, researchers, educators, and leaders committed to reimagining agriculture in service of climate health, soil health, improved water resources, biodiversity, and community health.
STEVE FINKEL | FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Steve is committed to building White Buffalo into a permanent service organization that will adapt and evolve as regenerative principles and practices become the standard for land stewardship. Steve brings decades of entrepreneurial, environmental, and private-sector experience. He believes the most effective organizations are built on the excellence and merit of the team; and the commitment to the core values of integrity, quality, and clarity in results-oriented and service-oriented pursuits.
JESSE SMITH | DIRECTOR OF LAND STEWARDSHIP
Jesse is the Director of Land Stewardship and is guiding the development of the Jalama Canyon Ranch as well as working with local and global leaders to broaden and deepen the positive impact of regenerative agriculture on our soil, our health, and our communities. His passion and expertise in agricultural system design and community engagement are a cornerstone of our strategy to achieve a systemic shift towards a regenerative food economy and ecology.
ANA SMITH | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS & ENGAGEMENT
Ana is the Director of Programs and Engagement working at the nexus of business development and community dynamics. Her background in program development, event planning and production, project management, and creative direction play a key role in the experience our community has with White Buffalo Land Trust, whether online or in person.
ANN CLOSE | DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Ann comes to the WBLT team with decades of experience developing programs in research, education and outreach for a wide variety of audiences. With a background in oceanography, a deep passion for the environment, and a fierce commitment to making science accessible to all, Ann looks forward to using scientific research to help better understand and quantify our practices and to creating engaging programs that will provide everyone the opportunity to become involved in our critical mission.
KYLE SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Kyle is the Director of Marketing and Communications and is focused on documenting and telling the story of our unfolding vision. This role combines his utmost passions for regenerative agriculture, living systems design, and storytelling through photography and filmmaking. Kyle brings seven years of marketing leadership experience from an agricultural business consulting firm and a background in organic vegetable, fruit, and flower farming, permaculture design, and horticultural therapy, providing a diverse perspective on our communication initiatives.
GLYN KENNEDY | DIRECTOR OF SALES (FIGURE ATE)
Glyn is the Director of Sales for Figure Ate and comes with experience across a broad range of product lines as a buyer, product manager and marketing consultant. She has a solid track record of using SEO data to identify consumer trends and market opportunities. With a deep care for both human and ecological health, Glyn looks forward to growing the Figure Ate brand to support the work of WBLT.
SAM FRANZ | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Sam is the Director of Development working to build deep connections between our donor community and the work of White Buffalo Land Trust. Her passion lies at the intersection of science communication and fundraising; sharing the wonders of nature and science to inspire action. Her professional experience includes work in development, science communication, conservation, and program management at various environmental nonprofit organizations. Sam looks forward to bringing her diverse experience to White Buffalo and the vital mission of restoring our ecosystem through agriculture.
AARUSHI JHATRO | ECOLOGY & GIS MANAGER
Aarushi is working on measuring how regenerative agricultural practices impact soil properties, biodiversity, and water cycling through the landscape. With master's degrees in water resources management and environmental science, she brings a holistic understanding of natural systems and a passion for integrating data into the development of natural resources management plans. She believes that regenerative practices are key to transitioning agriculture into harmonious systems capable of producing food while restoring ecosystem services.
DARIAN RUBOW | FIELD MONITORING COORDINATOR
As Field Monitoring Coordinator, Darian develops and implements monitoring protocols for biodiversity research projects at Jalama Canyon Ranch. Her relentless optimism, in combination with her expertise in wildlife biology and environmental consulting, brings a new lens of the natural world to our monitoring and research team. Darian is an advocate for regeneratively managed lands to promote biodiversity, the health of the environment, and human health.
LAUREN TUCKER | SPECIAL PROJECTS
Lauren Tucker is an entrepreneur and leader focused on evolving our food system. Her experience as the Co-Founder and former Executive Director of Kiss the Ground has led her to develop an extensive network of farmers, ranchers, food product manufacturers, scientists, and regenerative agriculture leaders. She holds a B.A. in international studies and psychology from American University. She works on crop-specific regenerative agricultural projects in collaboration with White Buffalo Land Trust. She is also leading reNourish Studio, a program of Farmer's Footprint, which is a cohort of food business leaders working to enable regeneration through their businesses.
JONAH BREES | 2023-2024 GRIZZLYCORPS FELLOW
Jonah is our fellow through GrizzlyCorps, an Americorps program by UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment. His year with us is focused on monitoring biodiversity alongside the research team at Jalama Canyon Ranch. He has a background in ecology and pollinator-plant interactions. He is excited to apply his knowledge to quantify the positive outcomes of regenerative agriculture. He is a firm believer that intentionality and sustainability should play a central role in our food systems.
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